Conduit and like construction



Jtme 18, 1935. c. GOTTWALD 2,005,699

CONDUIT AND LIKE CONSTRUCTION Filed March I, 1934 4 INVENTOR.

m %oz?fzuoc ORNE V1 Patented June 18, 1935 UNITED STATES PATE'i OFFlCE.

Application March Tl, 192 i, Serial No. 713,453

. '7 Claims.

This invention relates to built-up structures and is particularly applicable to the production of conduits and other tubular structures used either for conveying fluids or as casings for pipes, wires or the like.

Heretofore such tubular structures have been made of circular, semi-circular and other generally cylindrical elements such as ceramic tile, concrete or cast iron pipe sections, being laid end to end and joined by various types of connections. Of these the most popular is probably the socalled bell-and-spigot connection, in which each section has an enlarged end within which the smaller end of an adjacent section may be inserted, the joint being sealed by concrete, cement, asphalt or any other suitable material.

It has also been customary when, for instance, a tile casing is to be provided with pipes or other devices on its interior, to split the tiles lengthwise and seal the seams along the sides in a like manner, frequently laying the lower halves of all the sections first, installing the apparatus inside, and then placing the upper halves in position and sealing them to each other.

While some of the prior structures have been very satisfactory in operation, the use of the projecting belled end has had some disadvantages. It, due to the fact that it projects, is more subject to damage than is the remainder of the section. There is some difficulty in producing a perfect seal between the underlying portions of adjacent sections. And, the end, being materially different in dimensions from the remainder of the section, is subjected to a different rate of deformation upon drying, firing and the like, these differences being particularly noticeable when ceramic material is used.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved conduit structure which will retain the advantages and eliminate the disadvantages of prior structures.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention will be better understood from several practical embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which;

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an installation embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line IIII of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the side joint of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 Figure 4 is a similar enlarged sectional View taken on line IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modified form of construction; and.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing a pipe and its support placed within the conduit.

in Figures 1 to 4 a structure is shown suitable for similar purposes to that shown in my prior Patent No. 1,846,559, issued February 23, 1923, and intended for use either as an underground conduit, or as a casing for underground pipe lines or the like. The structure consists of a series of base drains or tiles l which are of generally hollow trapezoidal shape and rest upon a supporting surface such as the earth at the bottom of a trench or the like, arranged in end to end relation. On the top of each base drain are two longitudis nally extending ribs 2 upon which the conduit sections are supported.

The conduit itself consists of a series of cylindrical or other tubular sections split along their sides into upper and lower halves 3 and 4 respectively, the halves being sealed together and the ends of adjacent sections sealed to each other in a manner which will be hereinafter described.

Along the sides of each section are formed inwardly extending ribs 6 on the interior. thereof and on the exterior in alignment with these ribs are formed generally dove-tailed shaped or under cut recesses l. Substantially mid-way of the ribs and recesses, the sections are scored as indicated at 8 and 9 to facilitate and direct the splitting thereof. At both ends of the sections throughout the upper halves are formed external marginal recesses Iii, ribs on the interior of the sections being provided, if desired, to increase their strength at this point, and similar but internal recesses are formed as indicated at l I on the lower halves of these sections. Holes iii are provided in the ends of the sections for the reception of dowel pins 13 to retain the adjacent sections in alignment.

The manner in which the structure is assembled Will be readily apparent from Figure l. The base drains which are simply laid along the bottom of the trench or similar place where it is desired to eifect the installation. The sections of the con duit are split longitudinally, the fractures being guided by the scoring 8 and ii, and the lower halves of the sections placed upon the ribs 2. It is now a simple matter to apply cement or other sealing material M within the aligned recesses H- in the lower halves of the conduit.

If pipes or other articles are to be installed within the conduit, these may be conveniently positioned within or above the lower halves, it being understood that pipe supports such as those illustrated in my above referred to patent, or of any desired or known type, may be used, and, if of a type making it necessary, holes through the sections will be provided for them. After Whatever parts are desired are positioned within the conduit, the upper halves of the sections are placed in position and cement or other sealing material !5 may be readily applied to recesses and In, sealing the side seams and completing the sealing of adjacent sections to one another.

One manner in which pipe supports may be mounted without the necessity of providing holes through the sections is illustrated in Figure 6, in which a supporting cradle-like metal piece 205 is positioned within the lower half 264 of the section, the cradle being provided with stepped upper surfaces upon which may be positioned a bar 2% provided with a roller 233 which will support a pipe 299 within the casing formed by the sections.

1 Depending prongs 286 are arranged to fit within the grooves between the ends of adjacent lower halves and to be retained within the cement or the like 2H5 which seals these halves together.

The sections are of substantially uniform thickness throughout, even along their sides, because of the oifs'et arrangement of the material, and,

therefore, particularly when made of ceramic material, and not subject to deformation by unequal expansions and contractions such as would otherwise occur cluring drying, firing, and the like.

As there are no projecting bells, the sections may be more readilyro'lled along the ground than those heretofore in use and are less subject to breakage. It also unnecessary toprovide notches or recesses in the base drains or supporting tiles 5, whichhave heretofore been required,

. thus simplifying the manufacture of these base drains, as Well as rendering them stronger and less pervious to dirt and the like. The manufacture of these base drains is also further simplified in that it is unnecessary that their length bear any relation to the length of the conduit sections, while heretofore some relationship has had to be maintained, so that the-notches would be properly positioned for receiving the belled ends of the conduit sections.

It is not necessary at any time to reach underneath any-of the parts to apply the sealing mate-' rial, but it all may be deposited downwardly or horizontally into the recesses provided for it, and due to the undercut or dovetail shape of the recesses will firmly key itself in place and assist in retaining the halves and sections in their desired positions.

In addition to simplifying the application of the sealing material, the inspection or" this work is simplified, as when the lower halves, which have .all been laid in position, are sealed together, the

this modified form of conduit is precisely the same as that above described, excepting that the separate base drains are not used and the lower halves of the sections are laid directly upon the 7 ground or support.

While I have described the illustrated embodiments ofmy invention in some particularity, obviously many others will readily occur to those skilled in this art, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the precise details shown and described but claim as my invention all embodiments, variations and modifications thereof coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A conduit comprising sections each consisting of upperv and lower portions, the edges of the upper and lower portions being formed with undercut recesses extending therealong, the

ends of the lower section being provided with undercut recesses opening to the interior. of the section and the end of the upper portion being provided with undercut recesses opening to the exterior of the section. v

2; A conduit comprising sections each consist.-

ing of upper and lower portions, the ends of the lower section being provided with undercut recessed opening to the interior of the section and Z the end of the upper portion being provided with to the exterior oi the undercut recesses opening section. I v

3. A conduit comprising tubular sections each consisting of upper and lower portions, the abutting edges of said portions being'inwardly ofiset to provide recesses along the exterior of said sec tions and to maintain substantially uniform the wall thickness, and the ends of said portions being recessed, the end recesses when the sections are installed all opening upwardly.

4. A conduit comprising sections each consisting of upper and lower portions, the ends of the lower section being provided with undercutrejcessed opening to the interior of the section and the end of the upper portion being provided with undercut recesses opening to' the exterior of the section, a pipe extending within said conduit, and supports for said pipe enclosed within said con.-

duit.

5. An article of manufacture comprising'a uni tary ceramic tubular section of generally cylindrical shape, having undercut grooves extending along its sides and within the surface of the cyla 'inder defining the section.

6. An article of manufacture comprising aunitary ceramic tubular section of generally cylindrical shape, having undercut grooves extending along its sides and within th'esurfaoe of the cylinderdefining the section, peripheral recesses at its ends, the end recesses to one side of the side recesses, being on the exterior, and the end recesses on the other side of said side recesses being" on the interior of said tubular section.

7. An article'of manufacture comprising a unitary tubular section consisting of an upper and a lower portion, the walls' betw'een' said portions being inwardly ofisetto provide undercrit'recesses along the exterior of said sectionand to maintain substantially uniform the thickness ofthe wall of the section.

CHRISTIAN GOTTWALDLQ 

